As originally posted on Planetraver.com

Planetraver: Chemistry Awareness

There is an ongoing problem with drugs in the undergound scene, we at planetraver.com felt it was impairative to provide a source for kids to become educated.  Ignorance is no excuse!  This section is now moderated by Mikey b and Jen.  Please email them with any information on Chemistry.  Party Safe!

Definitive Sources for Drug Information

http://www.dancesafe.org

http://www.ravesafe.org

Vaults of Erowid - http://www.erowid.org

E-verything you never wanted to know [about ecstasy].
Posted by deep [on Bluelight] on Wednesday, 28 July 1999, at 1:51 p.m.

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not support or promote the use of drugs or other potentially harmful
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is simply provided as historical reference. Planetraver nor
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Review at your own risk and Don't Use Drugs!

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I have been surprised at the amount of misinformation some have been propogating
and at the expense of sounding like an all knowing jerk I will post some general
information here. I am going to be as explicit as possible because even
elementary information may be alien to some and it is my hope that the stuff I'm
about to write will at least help someone out.

Ecstasy is a generic name for pills and does not reflect their content. The
content of a pill varies not only from brand to brand [i.e. Mitsubishi and
Rolexes are different] but also within brands [between batches, i.e from
Mitsubishi to Mitsubishi]. So buying one E is no guarantee that it will be the
same as another E you had. The contents could be completely different.

The prolonged duration of the pill, as well as the visuals you experienced,
would point to the content of the pill being MDA, as these are characteristic to
the substance. MDMA comparatively has a cleaner comedown, shorter duration of
action, no visuals, and feelings of empathy [love] and euphoria [body buzzes].

MDEA is another variant molecule often found in "E". It has a significant
amphetamine effect but does not carry with it the same emotional stimulation
that the aforementioned types provide. It is often the cause of the "e-tarded"
feeling people have - irritable yet speedy. "Heroin" is often blamed for pills
high in MDEA content, yet no tests have ever found heroin - synthetic or
otherwise - in ecstasy. Furthermore, pills are cut with other substances mainly
to drive down costs - heroin is more expensive per gram than MDMA and hence it
would not make sense to cut a pill with it. Furthermore the dose of heroin
needed to provide an effect is greater than what you could put into a tiny E
pill that already contains other substances. The same holds true for cocaine.
Their presence in ecstasy are simply myths.

Other myths regarding ecstasy include it draining spinal fluid [back pain is
more likely due to overuse of muscles in that area because of the energy that
ecstasy provides].

Obviously, MDMA is what most people are looking for. But because it is
relatively difficult to synthesize [and hence more expensive] chemists often put
in other less expensive substances. Since pill prices are relatively
static/unchanging, the lower the cost of production, the greater the profit.

MDMA produces its effects by increasing levels of dopamine and serotonin your
nervous system. Serotonin has many functions in the body, including the
regulation of sleep and dreaming, the regulation of eating patterns, as well as
sensations of contentedness and satisfaction. Chronically low levels of
serotonin are related to depressive disorders. Dopamine is a neurochemical that
amongst other functions provides the body buzz, speedy and euphoric feelings
that MDMA generates.

Pills can contain other substances [i.e. methamphetamine, caffeine, ephedrine,
etc.].

1] Timing is critical. Chemists often wait for a pill to earn a reputation, then
pump out copycat batches using garbage ingredients? Why? Because garbage
ingredients cost less. And knowing full well that once a pill has earned a name
for itself, they can ride the reputation generated by the higher quality batch.
Case in point: Nothing after the first generation of Mitsubishis came out last
August even came close to the first generation. Many of the ones circulating now
are total bullshit. But still they were bought up readily because people
actually thought they were getting their hands on the real deal. Colors, stamps,
etc. mean little after enough time has passed. Furthermore some pill types have
been around since the beginnings of the rave scene in England. Hearts, Diamonds,
E-stamps, Doves, Butterflies, etc. are not exactly unique or hard to find pill
stamps. So simply because you had a heart two years ago does not mean the one
you bought tonight will be any good.

Anyone with a 2nd year knowledge of organic chemistry can perform the reactions
necessary to synthesize MDMA. Getting your hands on the equipment and chemical
precursors is not easy but not impossible. And it does involve the use of toxic
chemicals [mercury, etc.]. So don't think that all pills come from one big
factory somewhere and that they're all the same. It could be overseas, in an
abandoned building, a suburban home or down your street. Anyone with a pill
press and a stamp can punch out copycats. If you get your hands on pills within
3 weeks of it hitting the streets then you are in good shape. Anything after
that point and that it is right when the copycats usually start coming in for
good pills.

2] Read, read, read. Don't go by your dealer's assurances or what your friend
heard or anything else removed from facts. Read the facts and studies yourself,
know the bottom line, don't let someone else tell you what is right and wrong
[including myself. I openly urge everyone to read the research themselves to
verify what I'm writing]. "Don't worry, it's good." is not a guarantee. Drug
dealing does not obey the same code of ethics real businesses have to face.
There are no penalties for lying, no penalties for putting out a shitty product,
no penalties for screwing people over to make a buck.

Good places to get information are the reports page include :
http://www.bluelight.net/mdma
http://www.bluelight.nu
http://www.ecstasy.org
http://www.lycaeum.org/
http://www.erowid.org/
http://www.dropout.freeserve.co.uk/articles/preload.html

Read all of them.
...and for anyone interested in reading the actual studies
http://www.infotrieve.com/freemedline

You may need an introductory understanding of physiological psychology, in which
you should be able to turn up a good used textbook at your local university. I
suggest the Physiology of Behaviour by Carlson.
Be forewarned that some spineless dealers post glowing reports from time to time
to sell their shitty products. So if it's too good to be true, it probably is.
Stick around, read everything that you can. Wait a week or two before you try
digging up a certain pill to see if everyone's reactions are the same. Wait
until others have tried things out. Don't trust everyone's reports, find people
who judge hard and are intelligent about their usage and ask them.

3] Know what you want ahead of time, how much you want to pay for it, and don't
settle for anything less. Your dealer needs you more than you need them. Period.
If you don't get what you want from someone take your business elsewhere. As
long as people tolerate bullshit from dealers they'll keep trying to pull it.
The whole reason why Mitsubishi's were pressed out was because over the past few
years the quality of pills had decreased significantly. These days the average
pill runs about 75mg of MDMA. In 1994 the average pill contained 150 mg of MDMA.
In other words you could buy a single pill and split it between yourself and a
friend and get the same effect as a single pill today. People grew tired of this
trend and the business suffered accordingly. Mitsu's were pumped out in the
summer of last year from Amsterdam to restore faith in E-trade in London. The
first generation of Mitsu's were tested at 140mg+ of MDMA. For more info check
out the article that Mixmag did this year on the Mitsubishi phenomenon.

The point is, don't tolerate bullshit and people won't feed it to you.

4] Buy ahead of time and never at a party. You will pay 5-10 dollars less and
not have to deal with last minute mind fucks and dealer tricks. If you buy more
than $200 at a time you should be entitled to a free tester from your dealer.
Good prices - 180-200 for 10, 20-25 dollars for any quantity less.

5] The taste of a pill is a good indication as to its content. MDMA has a
characteristic bitter taste - very bitter. Scratch off a piece of the pill and
put it on the tip of your tongue. If it doesn't make your face wince it probably
doesn't have much good to it. It also has a characteristic "sassafras" smell,
because of the use of sassafrole in the synthesis of MDMA. Pay close attention
to the appearance of the pill - its color, how hard it is, the stamp, how thick
it is, whether there is a score [line] down the back, whether there are speckles
etc. It will help you distinguish between copycats.

6] Never depend on only one dealer. Dig for as many connections as you can find.
Don't tolerate mind fucks. If someone plays mind games with you, walk away. Same
as in normal business. Accept only the best and that's what you'll get.

7] Know your dealer, don't ever buy from someone you don't trust or don't like.

8] Never dose more frequently than 1 - 1.5 hours apart. The amount necessary to
provide the desired effect varies from individual to individual but in Alexander
Shulgin's original studies it was determined that 120 mg of MDMA is enough to
fuck up the majority of the population. Generally, unless someone has acquired a
tolerance from months of excessive usage, 2 pills should be enough to fuck up
the majority of people [assuming that they're of relatively good quality]. There
is probably not a direct relationship with bodyweight and number of pills needed
for a potent dose and more likely a greater relationship with brain mass and #
of pills needed, but it's generally true that the smaller you are, the less you
need, and that females can get away with less than males.

9] One can acquire a tolerance for MDMA from excessive usage, necessitating more
and more to produce the desired effect while accumulating more and more side
effects. The only thing that can remedy the acquisition of a tolerance is
abstinance.

10] Do not combine E with monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs. Monoamine oxidase
is the enzyme that helps to eventually slow down the effects of MDMA, without
it, your body is like a car speeding without any breaks - it has no way of
controlling itself.

11] Handle your business yourself. Don't leave it to others.

12] Stay adequately hydrated. MDMA enhances serotonin secretion, high levels of
serotonin cause hyperthermia [increase in body heat]. Not to mention the fact
that dancing alone works up a good sweat.

13] Take periodic sober breaks...you'll find out whether you're into the scene
because of the vibe/music or the drugs rather quickly. Furthermore it will
enhance the quality of your rolls when you do.

13] Double stacks are sometimes a trick used by chemists to convince people
there is more MDMA in a pill than there really is. Although some double stacked
pills do contain significantly more MDMA they are generally the exception rather
than the rule.

14] Information is regionally specific. Meaning that a pill that was great in
England may not be the same as ones circulating around here, even if the stamps
are the same.

15] Metaphorically, think of your brain as the engine of a car. Certain
substances floor the gas pedal and make the car go faster than normal. This is
fun. But in driving faster, you use up gas [serotonin, in this specific
situation] faster as well.
When these substances wear off, you are obviously left with less gas than you
would have if you didn't do the speed-racer thing.
With less gas, you can't drive as fast as you normally do. Therefore you operate
less efficiently. Low levels of serotonin can be characterized by changes in
eating patterns, sleeping patterns, short term memory and the appearance of
depressive symptoms. MDMA produces its loved up, empathic effect by increasing
levels of serotonin. If the body's "gas" [serotonin] is used up faster than it
is replaced, then one is left with less serotonin when it is all said and
done... ...unless you go to a gas station and refill the tank [supplement with
5-HTP, eat foods rich in the amino acid trytophan like bananas or turkey
meat]...
...or put the car in economy mode to use the gas more efficiently [use of an
SSRI type anti-depressant]...
...or don't drive as fast, as often [use moderation in usage / frequency].
Because this is purely mathematical it applies to everyone regardless of their
prior condition.
It should however be noted that the lower levels of serotonin are not permanent
[i.e. the size of your gas tank has not been reduced], but rather there is
temporarily less gas in the tank than normally.
Damage may even occur to the engine if driven hard with no gas in the tank.
Depletion of serotonin stores is one step in a proposed mechanism for the
neurotoxicity of MDMA. It can be theoretically counteracted by using engine oil
[antioxidants such as Vitamin C]. I must however warn that studies correlating
MDMA with neurotoxicity have only been performed in animals and only using
ridiculously high dosages / frequency of usage.

There are ways in which one can decrease the negative side effects of MDMA and
increase the positive ones. Although no studies have been done on these
techniques and MDMA specifically, extrapolating biochemical facts and observing
the experiences of those who have done it support their practice. These
practices are called preloading and postloading. The entire concept behind
preloading and postloading is, extending the above metaphor, adding gas to the
tank that MDMA is going to use up.
 
Serotonin as aforementioned is responsible for the empathic, loved-up feelings
from MDMA. Adding more serotonin to your system enhances these effects. More
importantly, it hypothetically counteracts the mechanism MDMA is thought to
induce neurotoxicity with. 5-hydroxytrytophan is the direct precursor of
serotonin in the body. It is sold in health food stores to help people with
sleeping disorders [one of serotonin's roles is in the regulation of sleep, as
aforementioned]. It is not a drug, it is an amino acid with a hydroxyl molecule
appended to it. Supplementation with 5-hydroxytrytophan enhances the loved-up,
empathic feelings and cleans up the comedown.

Hard come downs are usually generated by depletion of intraneuronal serotonin
stores. The result of lessed serotonin stores, as mentioned above, are
characterized by disruptions in normal sleeping and eating patterns, difficulty
in verbal processing and committing facts to short term memory, as well as
irritatiblity. Most notably the impact of low serotonin levels is characterized
by depression. Supplementation with 5-hydroxtrytophan [5-HTP for short]
counteracts these negative side effects by putting more gas in the tank and
ensuring that you don't run out.

In animal studies, it is hypothesized that neurotoxicity from MDMA is due to the
following process. I'll put it in layman's terms.

1] MDMA amps up serotonin and dopamine use.
2] Serotonin runs out
3] Dopamine goes where serotonin normally would
4] Altered dopamine molecules cause damage to nerves

Therefore by preventing the depletion of serotonin you minimize the amount of
oxidized dopamine radicals that feed into pre-axonic serotonin terminals and
cause axonic trimming.

One of magnesium's major roles in the body is in muscle relaxation. It is the
antagonist [opposite] of calcium, which helps to induce muscle contraction. The
jaw clenching observed on MDMA can be minimized through magnesium
supplementation. Added magnesium can also minimizing cramping due to
dehydration. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. As aforementioned it is thought
that MDMA is neurotoxic due to oxidized free radicals. As such Vitamin C
counteracts these free radicals and helps to minimize damage incurred.

The aforementioned three elements are the most PROTECTIVE elements to a
preloading regimen. The following elements are optional because they enhance the
experience rather than protect you from anything specific. L-Tyrosine is to
dopamine what 5-HTP is to serotonin. It is its precursor. Dopamine provides the
rushy, body buzz, speedy effects...increasing L-tyrosine levels enhances these
sensations.

DLPA amongst other functions, helps to prolong the duration of action of
pleasure inducing neurochemicals. L-Glutamine is a precursor to
neurotransmitters in the brain. It also imparts a protective effect on the brain
but not as heavily as 5-HTP or Vitamin C.

Any substances that you are preloading with need to cross the blood brain
barrier to be effective. Amino acids compete with each other to cross the blood
brain barrier, hence eating foods rich with protein lessen the effects of the
amino acids because so many are in competition. It's like having a race with 2
people or 1000 people. Those one of those two people are more likely to win when
they're only racing against themselves.p

As such preloads are taken on a relatively empty stomach, 1-1.5 hours prior to
rolling. Preferably they are taken with a sugary juice to help the amino acids
cross the blood brain barrier. Grapefruit juice inhibits one of the p450
cytochrome C digestive enzymes in the digestive tract that metabolizes MDMA and
hence can make the effects of the drug somewhat more effective.

It should be noted that preloading can upset some people's stomachs or cause
diarrhea due to the acidity of the stomach. In which case these symptoms are
easily counteracted by the following steps:

1] Mix the capped substances into juice, shake thoroughly, and sip the solution
slowly over the course of an hour prior to a roll.
2] Immodium can counteract the diarrhea and does not interfere with a roll.
3] Tums or any calcium carbonate based antacid reduces the acidity of the
stomach and counteracts the feelings of sickness one might encounter when coming
up from a roll or after preloading. A newbie I came across on the weekend was
doubled over from their pill hitting them too hard - two tums and ten minutes
later they were up on their feet feeling fine. If necessary you can also eat a
non-acidic carbohydrate based food to buffer acidity, such as bread, muffins,
etc.

The practice of postloading is metaphorically to fill up the tank after a long,
fast ride. You restore the elements depleted by MDMA, and in doing so, bypass
negative side effects and clean up your comedown while restoring normal
function.

The only elements required in a postloading regimen are the protective ones. It
is suggested that one employ 5-HTP, Vitamin C, Magnesium for the aforementioned
reasons. A multivitamin is beneficial to help replace spent micronutrients.
Water is of course beneficial. L-Tyrosine, DLPA are not desired nor necessary.

You will know if you are bypassing the negative side effects of serotonin
depletion if you can sleep soundly after rolling, and do not experience
significant post-MDMA depression or disturbances in verbal processing, short
term memory and eating patterns.

Natural sources of trytophan [the precursor to 5-hydroxtrytophan, two steps away
from serotonin] include bananas and turkey meat. Turkey's high level of
trytophan is the reason why most people feel sleepy after thanksgiving /
christmas dinners - the high concentration of trytophan converts to serotonin in
the bloodstream. Because of serotonin's relationship to the regulation of sleep,
fatigue is induced.

In so far as exact dosages of these elements, it should be noted that it varies
from person to person and experimentation is key. The following are guidelines that have been found to
work for many. It should also be noted that changing the ratio's of elements can
provide different effects. I.E. Decreasing 5-HTP and increasing L-Tyrosine/DLPA
can enhance the speediness of a pill, but would not protect the brain from
neurotoxic effects as much as more 5-HTP would. Excessive 5-HTP can mellow out a
roll. Not make it mashy, but reduce the speediness of the pill.

Preloading:

1. 5-HTP - 200-400mg
2. L-Tyrosine - 500-1500mg
3. DLPA - 500-1500mg
4. Vitamin C - 1000+, since it is water soluble and so protective you really
can't go wrong going high. Remember that orange juice and fruits are
comparatively lower sources of vitamin C compared to supplements.
5. L-Glutamine - 2-5 grams
6. Magnesium - 500-1000mg

Post load:
1. 5-HTP - 200-400mg
2. Vitamin C - 1000mg+
3. Magnesium - 500-1000mg

Remember to experiment and take these things slowly as the sheer volume of pills
ingested can upset the stomach. All elements are legal and can be found readily
in health food stores and at online health food retailers.

It may seem expensive to buy all these things but to protect your brain against
neurotoxic effects and reduce other negative side effects it is well worth it.
SSRI type antidepressants have been shown to impart a neuroprotective effect
after a roll as well. Specifically fluoxetine [Prozac] has been shown to prevent
neurotoxic effects in animals. I have never met a person who has wanted to go
back to rolling without preloading / postloading once they tried it. I don't
benefit from any of this information directly nor do I have reason to lie. I
just hope that this helps makes things safer for people out there.

You have to believe that you have control over what happens to you and that you
don't have to get screwed into anything.

I hope that this information helps someone out there. I'm not normally a quote
person because people never practice what they preach, but here are some maxims
to roll by:

Knowledge is power
It is best to err on the side of caution
Moderation is key
I can't think of anything else. I'm out
--Mikey b